It sounds like caching is the culprit. Have you set up your cache invalidation urls in CRM? And are your cache invalidation plugin steps enabled? Keep in mind you cannot use an IP address or localhost - you have to use a domain name.
I also recommend you set up a cache invalidation link on your browser toolbar - you can click the button and immediately invalidate your site's cache. This is very effective at making changes and configuring your demo environments. Here is an article
on how to set up that link:
http://community.adxstudio.com/Default.aspx?DN=ff663ebf-1a78-4afc-a8d1-19c3e171dddf
To validate that caching is causing the problems, simply recyle IIS or the app pool for your website and then refresh your browser page. If the problem goes away, it was caching.
Shan McArthur www.shanmcarthur.net Check out the commercial edition of xRM portals @ www.adxstudio.com